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AECP Level 1: Final Challenge (Part 1) Masculine Card

Today, I am going to share a masculine birthday card. This is a part of the final challenge given to me for completing Level 1 of the Altenew Educator Certification Program. I do have a video tutorial too.

I was asked to create a masculine card using any three techniques learnt in the Level 1 classes held at the Altenew Academy. Here is the video tutorial:

I used the three basic techniques, Ink Blending, Layer Stamping and heat embossing to add shimmer and shine to my card.

For my card I have used Altenew’s Arabesque Medallion Stamp set. I really found this motif stamp very elegant and pretty.

Firstly, I
took a 5”X 7” Neenah Solar White 80 pounds cardstock. I mounted the motif to my
MISTI door and used the Versafine Onyx Black Ink, to stamp the image. As the
stamp was already mounted, I also took a sheet of Inkadinkado masking paper and
stamped the motif on that too.

Next, I
selected the parts of the motif which I wanted to heat emboss. There are many small
stamps in this set which can be used to add colour and these fit perfectly onto
the big motif.

Using
Versamark Ink and some Superfine Gold embossing powder, I then heat emboss the
desired parts. For every portion I was heat embossing I was using the
Anti-Static powder before-hand, to avoid getting the embossing powder
everywhere.

Next, I took
the masking paper on which I had stamped the motif. Using a pair of scissors
first I fussy cut the outside border line and remove all the extra paper. Next,
using a pencil I marked the parts through which I wanted the background colour
to show. Now these were the parts I had to fussy cut. For this I used a paper
knife. Here is a small tip, the parts which I wanted to remove, I cut slits
into them. Then I could cut these using my pointy scissors easily.

As this
motif is a repetitive pattern, I did not bother to cut it fully and decided to
just flip the mask once half way through with the ink blending. I will make
sense in few seconds so please bear with me.

Once the
fussy cut was done, I adhered the mask to the heat embossed card base. I have
recently swatched all my Altenew and
Distress Oxides and these are really helpful in choosing the right ink for a
project.

I choose the Distress Oxide Faded Jeans for the background color. Using my Picket Fence Studio Life Changing Brushes, I applied the ink to the background. I then used the Distress Spray bottle to spray water onto the background to create some textures. I did use my heat gun to dry the water. Next, I took the mask out and carefully flipped and adhered it to the other half and repeated all the steps. I then carefully peeled off the masking paper.

At this
time, I noticed that there were some very thin portions at the margins still
white. So, I took a thin brush and applied the distress oxide, this just made
the inking very neat.

Next, I took three colours, which went well with the Faded Jeans distress oxide. I layered and stamped all the small images to create a pattern on the motif.

Once stamped
I again used a brush and Altenew inks to cover up the portions which I had
missed inking while layering.

At this
point, I decided to add more shimmer to my card, but it was a failed attempt as
the grey ink somehow turned all pink, so I did layer and stamp again with the
grey ink. This added ink layer actually made those potions pop.

Next, I
trimmed my panel to a 5” x 5” square, and also prepared a top folding card base
5.5” x 5.5”. I also took another piece
of cardstock 5.25” X 5.25” for matting the stamped panel. To this matting, I
added the Altenew ink to match the inked panel. I then used Art Glitter Glue to
stick all the layers together.

For the
sentiment, I used the Happy Birthday sentiment from Label Love Stamp set. After
stamping and cutting the sentiment strip, I did use my copic marker in black
color and went over all the edges of the sentiment strip. This just makes the
strip pop up and hides the white cardstock.

I did use
foam strips to create dimension and for adhering the sentiment strip to the
card.

There Are 6 Comments

Posted by Erum Tasneem

OH MY GOODNESS!! Did you just fussy cut ALL THAT!! WOW!! The intricacy involved in making of this is mind blowing! I also like that you didn’t omit the mistakes from this video or from your post. You have truly outdid yourself! Thanks so much for entering your beautiful work in the AECP assignment Gallery. I love your write-up and descriptions! Please keep up with your excellent work!

Posted by meetu

Posted by Virginia L.

What an EXCELLENT post! I am amazed at your Exacto knife skills! Truly FANTASTIC! I love how you combined all 3 techniques! What a treat to watch your video! I am so glad that you enter your beautiful work in Altenew AECP assignment Gallery. Awesome details and design!﻿

Posted by meetu

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Hello, my name is Meetu and I relocated to Auckland from India approximately three years ago with my husband and son. Besides being a passionate crafter, currently I am running an online card-making and scrap-booking supplies store Krafters Cart.

I have been crafting, in some or the other form since childhood. I really like experimenting and trying new things and I’m not scared of failures. I love making cards, enjoy colouring with Copics and Prisma colour pencils.

Hope you all like my creations. I would love to receive some inspiring comments, also please free to email me, in case you want some information about my work.